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The bystander effect is the tendency for people to not act in a situation where a large number of people are also standing by (simplistic explanation). If you see an accident or crime, call 9-1-1 or your local emergency services. At worst, they will inform you that they have services on their way. At best, you will save someone's life.

Bonus points, if you're responding to the accident, make sure that, first, your safety isn't being compromised, second, that the bystanders are safe, then point at one specific person and say, "YOU! Do you speak English? Call 911!" Don't just holler "someone call 911!"

If you are calling 911, provide as much information about the method of injury/nature of illness as possible. Is there a lot of blood? Tell them. This can be the difference between an immediate ALS (advanced life support, I.E. Medics) and BLS (basic life support, EMT-B's, AEMT's, first responders, etc.) or delayed. Did you see the accident happen? Do you know why it happened? Do you know this person, and if so, do you know any pertinent medical information? All of this information can be crucial to the survival of another person, depending on how quickly EMS can get that knowlege.

And, of course, take a CPR/AED course. It's incredibly simple and easy, and the usage of an AED in cardiac situations is one of the single greatest boons to emergency medical treatment, and they have become incredibly commonplace. A five year old could run an AED with only a couple minutes instruction, to be frank.

There's not much to say, honestly. Without training or at least knowledge, I would not recommend the average person do much physically to aid someone they find at an accident. Outside of CPR/AED stuff and holding pressure on bleeds, there is just not a lot that you're equipped to do. Try to communicate with the individual if they're responsive, try to keep them awake, but do not move them unless you are absolutely, positively sure that if you do not they will die (IE, inside a vehicle that is actively on fire), and even then, you are very likely to find yourself in court, defending your actions as this person sues you. EMS is the most heavily litigated facet of medicine, as far as I know, for this very reason.

It's often said in EMS that it's not a matter of if you will be sued, but when.

Imagine, if you will, that you do this, for free. You get paid in a gas voucher pittance and some gift cards to grocery stores. So you go to work in that stifling office for 8 hours, get out, take a shower, then spend a double shift bouncing between mind-numbing boredom and being stuck in the back of a hot, miserable box because you genuinely love it and you know it's important.

Then imagine you do this for five years, and you're incredibly bitter and used up, and you've seen and done things that you can't begin to talk about because it's "gross" and your sense of humor is the darkest and all of your friends that can tolerate you anymore are ALSO EMS. And then you're called into court because one day you had the audacity to adjust a man's position in his van that is only on it's side and leaking flammable liquid everywhere because he had too much to drink and crashed into a sedan, killing everyone but himself. Now he's suing you because his shoulder hurts sometimes and that's obviously because you were incredibly incompetent and definitely not because you were doing everything in your power to keep him from dying.

Don't let your kids be EMS, folks. Shit the best and worst, but the worst is so bad.

Remember that one video from China that surfaced like a year or 2 ago? It was about this women getting beaten but everyone just went about their business? I remember people were posting that video on tumblr or on facebook expressing their outrage (rightfully so of course). For me, I remember thinking "I can see why they didn't stop to help (though they should have call for help)...they don't want to get sued by that person."

You just nailed it. I got basic certified mostly for wilderness application. I planned on some city EMS work but after doing it realized its not for me at all. It's such a noble career that really throws you under the bus. Much respect brother

Unfortunately, I am very, very away from EMS these days. I made a choice that went against standing protocols and I'm basically unemployable. I now work in a mail room for an Insurance Agency, and am more or less much more happy these days.

In the state of Connecticut, Good Samaritan laws exist, but do not apply to EMS personnel, on or off duty. Unfortunately, we are also mandated by law that even off duty, if we come across an injured person, we must stop and render assistance if no other official personnel are currently doing so.

So, you must stop and help folks, and the law will not protect you. It's lose/lose.

The good Samaritan laws only allow you to do what you are trained to do, and vary by jurisdiction. If you have no formal training and try to give someone an emergency tracheotomy you will certainly not be protected as you legally are liable for battery on another civilian. Yay legal system...

As an EMT-Basic, there really isn't much anyone can do without equipment. Here are a few.

Know CPR

Know the recovery position. Use it if someone is unconscious and you are sure that they don't have a spinal injury.

If someone is seizing, make sure they aren't hitting their head against the ground, that's it.

If someone is bleeding, PRESSURE on the wound. Something as sterile as possible is preferred. Do not remove pressure until someone else can take your place, releasing pressure will force the clotting mechanism to start over.

SAMPLE is great, it's one of the first aspects of patient assessment that you learn. Mnemonics really make remembering this stuff much, much easier. Also of note, off the top of my head: DCAP-BTLS, TACOS, OPQRST, AVPU, PERRL, etc.

Witnessed an accident years ago. Immediately called 911 and said I was sure it was bad. Maybe 30 people stopped and crowded and I figured it was handled so I left. Got a call a year later finding the woman who got hit died and I was the only one that called 911. They wanted me to be a witness and got my info from the records. You shouldn't assume someone else will handle things.

In Quebec, it's actually illegal for a bystander to ignore someone who requires first aid. It's every civilian's responsibility to administer First Aid, dial 911, only if the victim gives consent (if they're concious).

That is silly. Why punish someone who doesn't act for someone they aren't responsible for. I can think of numerous reasons why I wouldn't want to administer first aid to someone. I don't have any BSI, don't have proper training, have a phobia of blood/gore...it goes on.

Another important thing to mention is know your exact location when you make the call. Make sure you find the nearest street signs or any significant landmarks. It will save time when talking to the operator.

I've been teaching first aid courses for the last few years, I will say that you are missing a few crucial things.

Your safety is just as important as the person you are helping. Check the area for hazards, especially with automotive accidents. The rhyme they have been using as long as I can remember is "no fire, no wire, no gas, no glass". Once you know it is safe, proceed to help.

911 operators are not in unlimited supply and they don't get there faster if 50 people call. So if you see somebody else calling, help in some other way.

911 operators have a script and will ask the necessary questions, they will also try keep you on the line until EMS arrives.
So if you know first aid, you should always get somebody to call for you; your skills are needed elsewhere. If you don't know first aid and you are unsure if someone has called 911, please do so.

If possible ask people you know by name to help, they are much more accountable. If you don't know anyone I would also recommend describing the person.("You in the assless chaps!") Don't ask them to help. Tell them to help.
Lastly, ask the person to report back once EMS is on the way. You want to make sure they're on the way.

Bystanders can be a useful resource if used. I do have a few suggestions as to what else they could do.

I would suggest not to gather patients items or go through their phone. Only so many items we are willing to gather and take with us to the box, most of what you've gathered will probably be dropped right by the patients car. If it doesn't fit on the stretcher it's probably not coming for the ride. Leave ICE numbers to the police. If the wreck is very serious the ICE will be asking alot of questions you will not have answers for just adding more stress to them. Leave that to the police, they will know where the patient is being transported, where to pick up belongings,and be able to request a specific wrecker. For the most part very helpful post.

Today I called non-emergency for that very reason. It was not an emergency and I almost didn't call, but then I thought "what if?"

A young man (very large) was walking across the street almost naked. He was only wearing boxers (half off his ass) and he was clutching a balled up towel. Nothing too crazy, but it was a chilly day high 40's to low 50's. So I made a turn the other direction to him, got out and asked if he was ok. He kinda slowly turned his head to me and said, "not really". I asked if he would like the blanket I had in my car and he did the same slow head turn toward me, "not really". He was most definitely "on one" or suffering mental deficits. I had my two young kids in the car so I wasn't comfortable offering him a ride. I almost didn't call, but then I thought how the temperature is going to drop below freezing tonight, and that somebody loves this guy. This happened in a very busy area and nobody was offering help, so I figured nobody would be calling either. I still kinda feel like I didn't do enough.

I live in a small town in a rural area, and if I were to call 911, I would talk to a dispatcher almost an hour away. Small town life pro tip: memorize the phone number for your local dispatch, in my case it's the fire department.

If you see an accident, and if you are able to do so safely, please stop and check for injuries and scene hazards (leaking fluids, downed wires, etc) to report to 911. We get a lot of calls from people who passed by an MVA without stopping and have no information to give us.

We would also appreciate if you are aware of the location. We'll ask for the address but the road name and nearest intersection (mile marker or exit # if you are on a highway) will probably suffice.

The Kitty Genovese case haunts me. I can't even fathom the realisation that she had that noone was going to help her just before she died.

Also, take a day out to get trained in CPR and be the one who can provide this in emergency situations! You have no idea when you'll need it. If you are the one who can perform this, look someone directly in the eyes and say "(Their name)! Call 911/000!" People often won't act if they're not allocated the role.

As a Fire Rescue first responder please stop and call 911. Don't call as you are driving by and make up what you saw. Too often we get calls that a car/truck has rolled and there are people trapped. Stop, see if they need help, call 911 and stay until help gets there.

I was fishing one day and watched some guy trundle by in a little rowboat powered by a little outboard motor. He was full throttle in the muddy shallow river and went by about 8-10 mph and I didn't think much else of it, til I saw a cooler float by, two oars, then a tackle box and then here comes the fisherman clinging to his upside down rowboat.

I wasn't sure what to do. He looked fine, but those waters are filled with debris and he wanted to save his rowboat. I watched him attempting to swim to the opposite shore with it and realized the putz was most likely to get himself exhausted in the cold water.

I honestly have no idea how it works, who gets billed, so was afraid to call for the guy, but I had been there a few months before and watched a search and rescue operation in action, so I wasn't taking chances. That other time, they found the guy dead, so I didn't want to see it happen before my eyes.

I dialed 911 and told them my location and the details of how to reach the guy and they sent out boats. They gave the man a tow back to the dock he started from. Hopefully he didn't repeat the same stupid shit next time. Learn your rivers, before you go speeding thru them alone. He's lucky somebody saw him. It's hard to paddle a boat with your hands, especially when the tide's going to carry you out to the bay.

the transformer behind my apartment complex blew up and all the cables melted on top of our garages. In that instant i remembered this idea from redditing and called 911. I dont think even the manager had called them.

While i agree it is a bit of a stretch i dont think this is really going to be the tipping point for someone to calling 911 when they wouldnt. If it helps even 1 person when they wouldnt have it was worth the post.

This LPT being posted could lead to people not standing there gawping like the rest of the mindless idoits witnessing some kind of accicdent, even if it's just one person, thats lives potentially saved and that seems pretty darn pro to me.

Some of the other information that has come up as a result of it is good to. There's no reason it shouldn't be on another subreddit, I fail to see why it shouldn't be here though, I'm sure there has been much less useful information here and I'm also sure that there is a subreddit that this would be perfect for but LPT is probably much more widely subscribed to than it. I fail to see how this could be suitable for /r/funny or wtf or askreddit though.

Just reported it. I doubt they'd take any action since it's been 12 hours and will just die on its own in a few hours. Plus, I haven't seen the mods remove any of the other posts that glaringly break the rules, so I'd be surprised if they started now.

I just don't like that the subreddit is dying slowly to people just trying to get attention, I guess. Many of the submissions are getting increasingly off topic, and people are starting to just make up random, pointlessly complicated ways to do things so they have SOMETHING to post.

Now we have literally a "Protip" that says "Call 911 when you see an accident". For Christ's sake, that's not even a tip. What else, "LPT: If your house is on fire, leave the building"? "LPT: Look both ways when crossing the street"?

Not saying it is a bad thing to suggest, just saying it isn't really an LPT, and if an adult doesn't know this by now I am dubious as to how helpful they would be in a real emergency after reading this.